Martha Ellene Smith, 87, returned to her heavenly home on March 4th, 2019. Martha’s devotion to her family, her love for others, and her firm belief in God made her a light to her community and an inspiration to those who knew her.
Martha was born to the late Fredrick and Martha Rossitter, on July 31, 1931. When she was 19, Martha and her parents were involved in a car accident, where Martha was the only survivor; at which point Martha was taken into the home of Laura and Weekly Bradford. Martha attended TCU and Midwestern where she excelled as a student. Her entrepreneurial spirit led to success selling Emmons jewelry, making hats, and helped her, along with her family friend Echo Martin, to found Hill Country Landscaping, which grew into the family business.
Martha was blessed with a large and loving family. She married her best friend and fellow parishioner, Clifton O. Smith Jr., on February 23, 1951 in Wichita Falls, TX. Martha helped raise three children with faith, hope, and love. She taught them the value of loyalty, hard work, and perseverance, and involved them in the family nursery business. From the very beginning, she dedicated her children to God and encouraged them to explore the beauty of the gospels. Martha faithfully served her church in various leadership positions including as the long time social chair of her Sunday School class at Hyde Park Baptist in Austin, TX.
Martha, or Granny, as she was known to many, loved to welcome others into her home for a meal only to challenge them to a game of cards or dominos afterwards. She possessed a loving and competitive spirit and never met a stranger. Martha will be dearly missed by her loved ones, who know she is now lobbying to be the social chair in Heaven.
Martha is survived by her husband, C. O. Smith; her daughter Deborah Bethancourt and sons Clifton Smith of College Station, TX and Timothy and Debbie Smith of Austin, TX; Her grandsons and their spouses Justin and Erin Bethancourt, Kyle and Lori Bethancourt, Phillip and Cami Bethancourt and Chad and Christina Knips; Her great grandchildren Isaac, Alex, Luke and Jack Bethancourt; John Thomas, Anna and Ryan Bethancourt; Nathan, Lawson, Weston and Hudson Bethancourt and Sadie, Tyler and Sophie Knips. She was preceded in death by her granddaughter Holly Smith.
Cremation Services are in the care of Callaway-Jones Funeral and Cremation Centers in Bryan College Station, Texas.
